Issues and Challenges of Ageing

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Issues and Challenges of Ageing

• By
• Lakshman Perera
• HelpAge

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What is Ageing

• IT IS A BIOLOGICAL PROCESS
• Starts with Birth and ends with Death
• INFANT, CHILD, YOUTH, ADULT, OLD
• OVER 60 YEARS CONSIDERED OLD
• UNFPAs confirms 10 of Sri Lankas
• 20 million is old and will double by 2020
• VERY SOON ¼ OF SL WILL BE OLD

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Reasons for this situation

• RAPID ADVANCEMENT IN MEDICINES
• DRASTIC DROP IN BIRTHS DEATHS
• EXTENDED LIFE EXPECTANCY
• DROP IN MORTALITY OF UNDER FIVES
• YOUTH KILLED BY CONFLICT
• YOUTH, YOUNG ADULTS, ADULTS ARE
• MIGRATING, LEAVING ELDERS ALONE

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AGE RELATED SETBACKS

• FAILING EYE SIGHT CATARACTS
• POOR HEARING, FRAIL BODIES
• PHYSICALLY HANDICAPED
• DIABETES, CANCER, STROKES, HIGH BLOOD PREASURE,
  OSTEOPOROSIS
• HUGE STRAIN ON HEALTH SERVICES
• PENSIONS AND AGE CARE SERVICES
• CHILDREN NEGLECTING PARENTS

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IMPACT OF AGEING ON SOCIETY

• IMPEDE AND AFFECT FAMILY UNIT
• REDUCE EARNING CAPACITY
• HEALTH RESOURCES DIVERTED OLD
• MANPOWER, LABOUR REDUCED
• FAMILIES OVER BURDENED
• RESOUCES AVAILABLE TO CHILDREN, YOUTH, ADULTS
  DIVERTED TO OLD.

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ACTION NEEDED AND NOW

• A TIME BOMB, UN-NOTICED
• ITS TICKING AND TIME IS LIMITED
• WE NEED TO ACT FAST AND NOW
• GOVERNMENT, ALL INGO, NGOS, PRIVATE, COOPERATE
  SECTOR,
• CIVIL SOCIETY MUST TAKE ACTION
• IMMEDIATELY TO AVOID ANOTHER CATASTROPHE

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ELDERS IN DEVELOPMENT

• INVOLVE ELDERS IN DEVELOPMENT
• AFORDABLE AND RELIABLE HEALTH CARE ACCESSIBLE TO
  ALL ELDERS
• EMPOWER TO CREATE AN ENVIORENMENT SUITABLE FOR
  ELDERS

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THANK YOU

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INVITATION

• 1ST OCTOBER 2007
• INTERNATIONAL DAY OF
• OLDER PERSONS
• AT THE BMICH
• YOU ARE ALL INVITED
• TO JOIN THE ELDERS WALK STARTING AT 7.30am
• FROM
• ACWBC PREMISES,
• 400, BAUDHALOKA MAWATHA,
• COLOMBO 7.